Rising Star draft keeps Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams together

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams tabbed as rising stars for NBA All-Star weekend as the league shifted the format a year ago to involve a draft with NBA legends instead of just a straight split of rookies and sophomores.

This afternoon, the NBA held their 2023 rising stars draft in preparation for the February 17th Event in Salt Lake City, Utah. The legends drafting from the NBA Player pool included NBA legend and Champion Pau Gasol, former Utah Jazz star Deron Williams, and two-time college basketball champion with former Thunder coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida Joakim Noah. In addition, former NBA Champion Jason Terry will head up the NBA G-League squad to compete with these rookies and Sopohmores.

The Oklahoma City Thunder sees Rookie wing Jalen Williams and Sophomore guard Josh Giddey remain teammates in the 2023 Rising Stars Challenge as NBA Legend Joakim Noah selects both.

On Tuesday Afternoon, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams learned their fate for the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge, and both were selected to Team Joakim Noah. As a result, Giddey and Williams will remain teammates for this particular Event and not have to face off with one another.

Noah selected Josh Giddey with the fourth overall pick in the NBA Rising Stars Draft while grabbing Thunder rookie Jalen Williams with the ninth overall pick to reunite the teammates.

Noah’s team includes Evan Mobley, Jeremy Sochan, Quentin Grimes, Jabari Smith Jr, Jalen Duren, and the two Thundermen. For my money, the best team on the market, only rivaled by team Pau Gasol headlined by Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Ben Mathurin, Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, Andrew Nembhard, and Jose Alvarado.

These teams will play in a mini-tournament consisting of these four teams and three games. The games will be played to a final target score of 40 in the semifinal games and 25 in the championship game.

The Event will take place at 8 p.m. Central time and broadcast on TNT Friday, February 17th. Thunderous Intentions will have wall-to-wall boots-on-the-ground coverage of NBA All-Star weekend.